Hong Kong Prosecutes 47 Democrats

Closing arguments began Wednesday in the largest national-security trial since the Hong Kong government began its crackdown on pro-democracy voices. Forty-seven individuals are charged with “conspiracy to commit subversion” because of unofficial primaries they organized for the 2020 Legislative Council elections. The truth is that the Hong Kong legal system is really on trial.

Of the 47, 31 have already pleaded guilty, including law professor and primary organizer Benny Tai and internationally known activist Joshua Wong. But they won’t be sentenced until the trial ends. The remaining 16 have pleaded not guilty.